Method Of Interacting With A Video Game System

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of interacting with a video game system comprising a user input device, the method comprising: determining movement of a user using a sensor; predicting a future actuation of the user input device based on the determined movement, wherein the actuation triggers a game event; outputting an effect based on the predicted actuation of the user input device. This provides accurate, pre-emptive effects and improves the interaction between a video game system and a user.

1 . A computer-implemented method of interacting with a video game system comprising a user input device, the method comprising:
 determining movement of a user using a sensor;   predicting a future actuation of the user input device based on the determined movement, wherein the actuation triggers a game event; and   outputting an effect based on the predicted actuation of the user input device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user input device comprises a controller comprising an input element, wherein the sensor is configured to determine the movement of the user relative to the input element of the controller to predict a future actuation of the input element. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the movement of the user relative to the controller comprises determining a movement of a hand of the user relative to the input element. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion detector, a capacitive touch sensor, or a galvanic skin response sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises the sensor and the sensor comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine an amount of pressure applied to the input element by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises the sensor and the sensor comprises at least one of a proximity sensor or a motion detector arranged on an interior of the controller and adjacent to the input element, the input element being transparent to the at least one proximity sensor or motion detector. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the input element is at least one of a button, a trigger, or an analogue stick. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises a user-tracking module configured to receive an actuation input when a user is located at a target location; and   the sensor is configured to determine an initial movement of the user to predict the user being located at the target location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises an eye-tracking module configured to receive an actuation input when a user looks at a target location; and   the sensor is configured to determine an initial movement of an eye of the user to predict the user looking at the target location.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein outputting the effect comprises outputting a pre-emptive effect, prior to actuation of the user input device, based on the predicted actuation of the user input device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a magnitude of the pre-emptive effect is based on the determined movement of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a type of the pre-emptive effect is based on the determined movement of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises a controller comprising an input element; and   a magnitude of the pre-emptive effect varies based on the distance between the user and the input element of the controller.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises a controller comprising an input element; and   a magnitude of the pre-emptive effect varies based on a length of time the user has been within a proximity threshold around the input element of the controller.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises a controller comprising an input element; and   the pre-emptive effect is output by the controller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises a user-tracking module configured to receive an actuation input when a user is located at a target location;   the sensor is configured to determine an initial movement of the user to predict the user being located at the target location; and   a magnitude of the pre-emptive effect increases as the user moves closer to the target location.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the user input device comprises an eye-tracking module configured to receive an actuation input when a user looks at a target location;   the sensor is configured to determine an initial movement of an eye of the user to predict the user looking at the target location; and   a magnitude of the pre-emptive effect increases as the eye of the user moves closer to the target location.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein outputting the effect comprises:
 caching an actuation effect prior to actuation of the user input device; and   outputting the actuation effect after actuation of the user input device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein predicting the future actuation of the user input device based on the determined movement comprises applying a trained machine learning model to the determined movement, wherein the trained machine learning model is configured to output the predicted future actuation from the determined movement. 
     
     
         20 . A video game system comprising:
 a sensor; and   a user input device comprising at least one of a controller, a user-tracking module, or an eye-tracking module;   wherein the system is configured to perform the method of  claim 1 .